Singer Susan Boyle Reveals She Has Asperger's Syndrome

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British singing sensation Susan Boyle has stepped forward to admit that a Scottish specialist diagnosed her with Asperger's syndrome last year—a realization that has led her to become more at ease with herself and hopeful that others will show her more empathy.

The singer, who rose to fame in 2009 after her rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" on the show Britain's Got Talent captivated millions, spent much of her life believing herself to be "brain damaged," as she had been diagnosed as a young girl in a small Scottish town. She was bullied as a child for being different and suffered bouts of depression and mood swings, but Boyle finally has "a clearer understanding of what's wrong and I feel relieved," she said.

Asperger's syndrome is a high-functioning form of autism, which results in emotional turmoil, social awkwardness or anxiety and occasionally some learning difficulties. Though Boyle has had massive success, with both a musical about her currently running in the U.K. and a major biopic in the works, episodes of impassioned emotions and erratic behavior has sometimes blighted her career.

Yet the singer remains optimistic. "Asperger's doesn't define me," she said. "It's a condition that I have to live with and work through, but I feel more relaxed about myself. People will have a much greater understanding of who I am and why I do the things I do."

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